Carrier with interlocking partition elements



July 3, 1951 w, m L 2,559,374

CARRIER WITH INTERLOCKING PARTITION ELEMENT Filed May 7, 1949 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. [Mu/4M ,4 lfmraq,

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ATTORNEYS.

July 3, 1951 Filed May 7, 1949 W. A. RINGLER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 'l i 'h .l'l n P 2 s ii ii I E INVENTOR. M14140! 4, )PNGL 4s,

elda/7% ATTORNIYS- Patented July 3, 1951 INTER ELEM CARRIER wrrn LOOKING PARTITION ENTS William A. Ringler, Wayne, Pin, auignor to The Gardner Board and Carton 00., a corporation of Ohio Application May 7, 1949, Serial No. 92,038

4 Claims. (Cl. 22928) My invention relates to carriers for bottles or like articles, especially those designed to hold a convenient merchandising group of bottles to be carried home by the consumer.

It is an object of my invention to provide new modes of forming carriers, and carriers which as folded and glued by the box manufacturer are in knocked down or collapsed condition but may be readily set up by the user, requiring no folding operations on his part, nor any operations such as the interlocking of parts.

It is an object of my invention to provide carriers which are fully partitioned transversely and longitudinally so that all bottles or articles are maintained in individual cells.

It is an object of my invention to provide carriers which are exceptionally sturdy and are capable of making many merchandising trips.

It is an object of my invention to provide carriers especially suitable for automatic loading, when the carriers are located in crates designed for the purpose. In this connection, and for the proper operation of the automatic loading machines, it is necessary that the carriers, when initially erected, be rigidly and accurately retained in the erected position. As a consequence, it is an important object of my invention to provide a construction of partitioned carrier embodying positive locking means for maintaining the erected condition of the structure. The locking feature is of additional importance in that my carriers perfectly retain their erected form even when the bottles are removed, and when subjected to considerable stress and abuse.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a carrier in which, in use, the lateral partition elements form a firm connection between the side walls and the central or longitudinal partition whereby the structure is greatly strengthened. This effect is attained in spite of the fact that the carriers are initially formed and shipped as knocked-down or collapsed structures.

It is an object of my invention to provide fully partitioned carriers devoid of flaps or weak parts liable to be caught and torn in use.

These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications I accomplish by that construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe certain exemplary embodiments. Reference is made to the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blankfor one form of my carrier. Figure 2 is a smaller plan view showing the blank after the first stage of folding.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the blank in completely folded and glued, but collapsed condition.

Figure 4 is an end view of the collapsed struc ture.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of the collapsed structure taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a similar transverse sectional view of the erected carrier.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the erected carrier with parts broken away.

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the erected carrier.

Figure 10 is a plan view of a blank for a modifled form of carrier.

Figure 11 is a partial plan view illustrating an initial folding step.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the carrier after all folding steps excepting the folding of the end wall glue flaps.

Figure 13 is an end elevational view showing a step in the folding of the blank.

Figure 14 shows a continuation of the step of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan view of the completely folded and glued carrier in knocked down or collapsed condition.

Figure 16 is a top plan view of the collapsed carrier.

Figure 17 is a top plan view of the erected carrier.

Figure 18 is a side elevation of the erected carrier with parts broken away.

Figure 19 is a. transverse sectional view of the erected carrier taken along the line ill-l9 of Figure 18.

Referring first to Figure 1, in this form of my carrier I provide of suitable boxboard and by conventional cutting and scoring operations, a blank which will now be described. It will be understood that the blank may be printed as desired. In the figure solid lines represent lines of cut, while dot-dash lines represent lines of score.

In the blank of Figure 1 I provide in articulation in the order named a partial end wall element I, a side wall 2, an end wall element 3, a side wall 4, a partial end wall element 6 and a glue flap 1. The dimensions of these parts are such as to permit the structure thus far described, when folded along a score line 9 intermediate the end wall 3, and the glue flap 1 adhesively attached to the end wall element I, to surround an assembly of bottles or other articles to be carried. Usually this assembly is a group of six bottles arranged in two rows of three each. The side wall elements 2 and 4 may be made slightly shorter than the assembly of bottles, and the various end wall elements may be provided with additional score lines as shown to permit their assuming a rounded configuration at the corners of the erected carrier, to conform with the end bottles in the assembly.

To the bottom edges of the side wall elements 2 and 4 I articulate bottom forming elements I and II to which in turn are articulated central partition forming flaps I2 and I3. In the particular styles of carriers illustrated herein, I prefer to employ wire handle elements as hereinafter described, and in this event the'central longitudinal partition-forming flaps or panels I2 and I3 have no greater depth than the depth of the side walls 2 and 4 themselves. The partition forming panels are slotted as at I4, I5, I6, and II. The positions and configurations of these slots will hereinafter be more fully described.

To the top edges of the side wall elements 2 and 4 I articulate lateral partition forming structures. These comprise central members I8 and articulated as set forth to the top edges of the side walls, lateral partition members 2|, 22, 23, and 24 articulated to the side edges of the central portions I8 and 20, and attachment flaps 25, 26, 21 and 28 articulated to the side edges of the lateral partitions.

The score lines which demark the attachment flaps 25, 26, 21 and 28 from the respective lateral partition elements 2 I, 22, 23 and 24 are interrupted by U-shaped cuts 29, 30, 3I and 32, as shown.

to the lateral partition attachment flaps 21 and 23 as indicated in the stippled areas 33 and 34 ure'2 at 39. An area of adhesive 4|! is applied to Next the blank is folded along the median score lines 9 in the end wall element 3. This positions the longitudinal partition forming panels I2 and I3 in super position, superposes the side walls 2 and 4 and the end wall elements I and 6, and brings the glue flap into position to be folded over and adhesively secured to the outer marginal portion of the end wall I. The final, collapsed, folded condition of the carrier is illustrated in Figure 3 in plan and in Figure 4 in elevation. It will be noted that the central longitudinal partition formed of the panels ,I2

and I3 is in downwardly displaced condition with respect to the side walls, and that the lateral partition elements 2i, 22, 23 and 24 are in laterally displaced condition, and lie against and parallel the side and end wall elements which are coplanar.

When the carrier is erected the parts are brought into the relationship illustrated in Fig- The score lines by means of which the lateral parby the U-shaped cuts 29, 30, 3| and-32 as de-' scribed above will enter the slots I4, I5, I6 and II in a locking arrangement to maintain the erected condition of the carrier as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The carrier blank shown in Figure 1 is easily and simply folded and glued on standard folding and gluing machines in the carton art, especially machines of a type having folding sections in which folding fingers travel on chains with the blanks as they pass through these sections. Thus folds can be made fore and aft of the direction of movement of the blanks through the folding sections.

ures 6, 7, 8 and 9. Erection is accomplished by pressing inwardly on the end wall elements.

This causes the attachment flaps 25, 26, 21 and 28, which have been adhered together as set forth above, to move inwardly toward each other. At the same time the central longitudinal partition formed of panels I2 and I3 will be caused to rise in the structure as the bottom forming panels I0 and II are brought upwardly. This action can be assisted by pressing the carrier downwardly on a flat surface. Side edge portions of the longitudinal partition ride between the joined attachment flaps 25, 26, 21 and 28 of the lateral par tition structures as will be clear from Figure 9, and they form continuations of the centrallongitudinal partition. As the board of the partition structures bends along the score lines between the lateral partition elements and their attachment flaps, tongues formed by the U-shaped cuts 29, 30, 3| and 32 remain coplanar with the lateral partitions 2I-, 22, 23 and 24. At first the longitudinal partition formed from the panels I2 and. I3 forces its way between these tongues and be-' tween the attachment flaps 25, 26, 21 and 26, but as soon as the longitudinal partition has been brought to its final position, and as soon as the continuation of it formed by the attachment flaps 25, 26, 21 and 26 are brought to their correct inward positions, these tongues enter the slots I4,

. l5, .l6 and I! as will be clear from Figures 6 I prefer, althoughthis may be omitted if desired, first to apply areas of glue or other suitable adhesiveto the central sections I6 and 20 l of the partition structures. .These structures are then bodily folded over onto the side and end wall elements. The central partitio'n elements I2 and I3 are folded inwardly along the score lines by which they are articulated to the bottom sections I0 and II. All of this folding may be accomplished in a single section of a and 8. A positive lock results and the carrier is maintained, rigidlyin the erected condition. It

"ing ends of a handle 4| shown being inserted in Figure 6. The clamping portions of thishandle machine such as has been described above. The

condition of the folded blank is illustratedin engage, as shownin Figure 9, the attachment-flap partition elements 2|, 22, 23 and 24, and they clamp them rigidly to the longitudinal panels I2 and I3. Thus the handle prevents the separation of the lateral attachment flaps from the longitudinal partition against any strains exerted by the bottles outwardly, especially when the carrier is only partially filled.

A modified structure is shown in Figures to 18 inclusive. In Figure 10 a blank is shown comprising side wall elements 42 and 43. These are interconnected at their bottom edges by a structure comprising a bottom panel 44, a central partition element 45, another central partition element 46 and a bottom panel 41 articulated together and to the side walls in the order set forth.

End wall elements 48, 49, 50 and 5| are articulated to the ends of the side walls 42 and 43, and these end wall elements bear glue flaps 52, 53, 54 and 55. Lateral partition structures substantially similar to those above are articulated to the outer edges of the side walls 42 and 43. These comprise central portion; 56 and 51, lateral partition panels 58, 59, 60 and 6|, and lateral partition attachment flaps 62, 63, 64, and 65. U-shaped cuts 66, 61, 6B and 69 are formed as before in the lines of articulation between the lateral partition elements 58, 59, 60 and 6| and their respective attachment flaps. Slots III, II, 12 and 13 are formed in the longitudinal partition panels 45.and 46, as before.

There are various ways in which the carrier of Figure 10 can be folded and glued. Adhesive may be applied to the end wall glue flaps 52, 53, 54 and 55 as shown in stippled areas in Figure 10, and areas of adhesive 14 and 15 may be applied to central portions of the side wall elements 42 and 43. Then the lateral partition structures are folded over onto the side walls, resulting in the attachment of the central portions 56 and 51 thereto. Next the glue flaps 52, 53, 54 and 55 may be folded over and adhesively secured. Thus the glue flap 52 will be secured to the lateral partition attachment flap 62. The glue flap 53 will be attached to the outer marginal portion of the lateral'partition attachment flap 64; the glue flap 55 will be attachedto flap 65 and the glue flap 54 will be attached to flap 63.

It is preferable though .not necessary, .to attachthe longitudinal partition-forming panels 45 and 46 together. This may be accomplished by turning thepar'tially folded blank over and applying an area of 'adhesive l6, as shown in Figure 11, to'the opposite, side of the panel.

Then the blank is folded alongt'he line of articulation between the central longitudinal panel elements 45 and 46 resulting in the structure shown in Figure 12.

This structure will then be reversed, by bending outwardly the combinations of jside'and end 4 wall elements, central partition elements and bottom-forming panels. This action is illustrated in Fig. 13, and comprises bending the blank along the lines of articulation between the bottom forming panels 44 and 41 and the central partition-forming panels 45 and 46. The elements are swung through 180 with relation to each other, and their-condition near the end of this swinging operation is illustrated in Figure 14. Other areas of adhesive TI and 18 are formed on the outer sides of a pair of' the end wall glue flaps as shown in Figure 12. In the final folding operation, therefore the'glue flaps 52 and 54 become adhered to the glue flaps 53 and 55 as will be clear from Figure 16.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit of it. Having thus described my invention in certain exemplary embodiments, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible paperboard bottle carrier having side and end walls in articulation, bottomforming elements articulated to the lower edges of the said side walls, and extensions on said bottom-forming elements aflixed together so as to form a partial central longitudinal partition, lateral partition elements articulated to intermediate portions of the said side walls and having attachment flaps, said attachment flaps being secured together adjacent their outer edges so as to form continuations of said central longitudinal partition, inner edge portions of said attachment flaps being free of juncture to each other whereby to accept between them edge portions of said partial central longitudinal partitions, said partial central longitudinal partition having slots formed therein at about the positions of the inner edges of the lateral partition panels in the erected carrier, the lines of articulation between said lateral partition panels and said attachment flaps being provided with U- shaped lines of cut providing tongues extending beyondthe lateral edges of said lateral partition panels, whereby to provide a carrier which is self-locking in the erected condition, the locking being accomplished by the entry of said tongues into the said slots in the part al longitudinal partition element.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment flaps are adhered directly together at their outer marginal portion and are free of attachment to the said end walls.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said attachment flaps are adhered directly together at their outer marginal portion and are free of attachment to the said end walls, in which said side Walls have lesser length than the total length of the said erected carrier, and wherein said end Walls have greater length than the distance between the side walls in the said erected carrier whereby said end walls are caused to follow a rounded configuration at corner portions of the erected carrier.

4. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein I said endwalls are formed from partial end wall elements articulated to end edges of the said side walls, said partial end wall elements having glue flaps, inturned and adhesively secured together, and in which the attachment flaps on the said lateral partition panels are adhesively secured to the outer sides of the so-joined glue flaps.

WILLIAM A. RINGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,163,290 Powell June 20, 1939 2,371,317 Ringler Mar. 13, 1945 2,418,350 Holy Apr. l, 1947 2,431,932 Hall Dec. 2, 1947. 2,443,256 Lebold June 15, 1948 

